Events Taxonomies: Patient Activation

Patient activation refers to the process by which patients become more engaged and empowered in managing their own health and healthcare. Activated patients are more knowledgeable about their health conditions, more confident in their ability to manage their health, and more likely to engage in self-care behaviors, such as exercise, healthy eating, and medication adherence.

Patient activation is important in healthcare because it has been shown to lead to better health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and higher patient satisfaction. When patients are more engaged in their care, they are more likely to follow through on treatment plans, experience fewer complications, and have better overall health outcomes.

There are several ways to promote patient activation in healthcare, including:

Patient education: Providing patients with clear and understandable information about their health conditions, treatment options, and self-care strategies can help them become more knowledgeable and confident in managing their health.

Shared decision-making: Engaging patients in shared decision-making with their healthcare providers, where they are actively involved in making decisions about their care, can help them feel more empowered and invested in their health.

Self-management support: Providing patients with tools and resources to help them manage their health, such as self-monitoring devices, mobile health apps, and patient portals, can help them take an active role in their care.

Health coaching: Working with health coaches or other support staff can help patients set goals, overcome barriers to self-care, and stay motivated to manage their health.

In summary, patient activation is an important concept in healthcare that involves empowering patients to take an active role in managing their own health and healthcare. By providing patient education, engaging in shared decision-making, offering self-management support, and providing health coaching, healthcare providers can promote patient activation and improve health outcomes.